Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-11-24
CANNIBALs ON THE CONGO.



1t is an open question whether canni-
balism is really vice of any tribe in the
regions OF the Congo, though evidence
of it crops sp now and then IN second
hand way that is regarded as sufficient by
some travellers to take the custom as es-
tablished. Mr.. Stanley, on his second
! journey through the Dark Continent, at a
village named Kampunzu, found two
rows OF skulls along the entire length
of the village, imbedded about two inches
in the ground, the cerebral heinispheres"
uppermost, bleached ana glistening white
from the weather. He was told they were
the skulls of the "sokos"-chimpanz
otherwise called "meat of the forest"
The Chief said the bodies had been eaten
"What kind of a thing is the 'nyama,' or
meat OF the forest, as you call itY" Stan
les asked. sit Is about the size of this
boy pointing to one of Stanley's atten-
dants, four four feet ten inches in height
and walks like q man; goes about with a
stick, with which it beats the forest, and
makes hideous noises. It eats bananas,
and we hunt it. kill it and eat it," 1t was
| further described as very good food.
| Stanley offered a reward for one of these
animals but it was found impossible to
kill one before several days should pass.
| Stanley had not time to wait for an ex-
ample Of the nyama, brt he brought
away seYeral. skulls of the alleged chin
panzee, which Prof. Huxley pronounced
! 20 be those of negroes of the ordinary
/ African type; upon which Mr.. Stanley
remarks: Prof. Huxley, by this deci-
sion, startles me with the proof that
Kampunzus people we're cannibals, for
at least ons half of the number of skulls
seen by me bore the mark of a Ratchet
which had been driven into the head
| while the victims were alive"
Mr.. Ward not only takes it for granted
that canniSslism is reality among GER
tain tribes OF Central Africa, but he sends
me the portrait of a well known cannibal
of Bangala, who is rep1ted to have eaten
eight OF his wives; and he also forwards
me set OF i'm plements that have been
used at cannibalistic feasts. They con-
sist of two spoons and curious fork. 1t
may be noted il favor of the statement
that there is no doubt "a to the anthem
ITCHY of these things. that they are by
far the most primitive Of all the articles
of native manufacture which 1 have re-
ceived. They are crude and ugly enough
| III suhpc duu Ia ~ pS VIZ bAC'ASNN u
| the most barbarous tribe, and if canni-
| balism is a Central African custom, one
can quite imagine that these might well
| be he knives and forks of eannibalis-
tic feast. Natives ON the Congo cNarged
the expedition of Stanley himself with
cannibalsm. He was seriously obstruct-
| ed, believe, more than once by the
/ spread of report that the white men
were cannibals. The natives here and
there had such terrible experience from
| the raids of Arab slaye-dealers that they
hight be forgiven for crediting strangers
with any crime, though it is odd that
they should select the vice of cannibalism
as the special cruelty they night expect
at the hands of white men. Ward, in
one of the letter, mentions an instance
of natives running away at sight of his
party, the women more particularly
making off with their children.